OECD Nuclear Energy Agency / L'Agence pour l'énergie nucléaire

International Co-operative Programme on Decommissioning (CPD)

The International Co-operative Programme for the Exchange of Scientific and Technical Information Concerning Nuclear Installation Decommissioning Projects began in 1985. Initially consisting of 10 decommissioning projects in eight countries, the programme has since grown to the present number of 43 projects (27 reactors and 16 fuel cycle facilities) in 11 NEA member countries and one non-member economy. A new agreement to reflect changes in the CPD's operating methods and financing was signed in 2004. Altogether 49 decommissioning projects have benefited from the information exchange framework provided by the CPD. The information exchange includes biannual meetings of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), during which the site of one of the participating projects is visited, and where positive and less positive examples of decommissioning experience are openly exchanged for the benefit of all. In 2005, TAG meetings were held in Tsuruga, Japan, and in Cadarache, France. In 2006, TAG meetings were held in Karlsruhe, Germany and in Higham Hall, United Kingdom.

The forum offered by the programme is valuable in ensuring that the safest, most economic and environmentally friendly options for decommissioning are employed. For some members, who have less experience in this area, the benefit in not having to go through an expensive learning and development programme is invaluable. Of particular importance in this period is not just the increase in membership and projects from OECD member countries, but the active participation of other international organisations such as the IAEA and the European Commission. This shows that the increasing importance of decommissioning for the future success of the nuclear industry is now recognised.

The programme reports to the NEA Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) and has strong ties to the NEA/RWMC Working Party on Decommissioning and Dismantling (WPDD). A report giving basic information on the participating projects, their modus operandi and summarising the first twenty years of experience accumulated within the project was published in 2006.

Participants

Decommisioning project(s) are in brackets. Links to project websites are provided where available.

Belgium (BR3-PW, Eurochemic Reprocessing Plant)
Canada (Gentilly-1, NPD, 204 A/B Bays, Tunney's Pasture facility; 204A/204B Bays, Chalk River)
France (PHENIX, EL4, G2/G3 Marcoule, Rapsodie Cadarache, Basic Nuclear Facility No. 57, ELAN IIB, AT1 La Hague, UP1 reprocessing plant, Bugey 1, APM Marcoule, Melusine, ATUE)
Germany (Lingen, MZFR Karlsruhe, KKN Neideraichbach, Greifswald, HDR, WAK, AVR, KNK)
Italy (Garigliano, Latina)
Japan (JPDR Tokai, JRTF Tokai, Fugen, Tokai 1 NPP, JAPCO plutonium fuel fabrication facility)
Republic of Korea (KRR1 and KRR2 research reactors, KAERI uranium conversion facility)
Slovak Republic (Bohunice A-1)
Spain (Vandellos 1, PIMIC project)
Sweden (Studsvik Active Central Laboratory)
United Kingdom (Co-precipitation Plant Sellafield BNFL 204, Primary separation plant Sellafield, Prototype Fast Reactor Dounrey)
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan Research Reactor)

Budget

€44 000/year.

International Co-operative Programme on Decommissioning (CPD)

Participants

Budget

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